USA > Massachusetts > The history of Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 4
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With the buds and the blossoms, the upspring- ing grass, and the leafing of the trees, the hearts of the Pilgrims began to be reconciled to their new home in a strange land. They had borne, without undue murmuring, the loss of one- half their scanty number, and they now watched the convalescence of others with a hope which the discomforts of their condition, the wintry weather, and the dreary and frozen solitudes around them had wellnigh overclouded. Their high-toned piety had indeed rendered them capable of bearing up under a degree of afflic- tion beneath which men with minds less ac- curately balanced would have succumbed. Yet their gratitude was not the less fervent when the birds began to sing again, and the icy brooks to throw off their crystal fetters, and the earth to put on its fresh and tender vernal rai- ment. Straightened as they soon became for food, it was a source of deep joy to watch the gradually increasing strength of those dear friends whom sickness had so long prostrated, and to see fulness and colour once again return
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
[1621.
to beloved lips, and the rosy hue of health to cheeks so lately pale and wan.
In July an embassy to Massasoit was resolved upon; the conscientious colonists desiring to dis- cover, and reimburse, certain unknown Indians for the corn which had been found and appro- priated by the party that first landed. Upon this embassy Stephen Hopkins and Edward Winslow were despatched. Guided by Squanto, the Indian who had been kidnapped by Hunt, and who was to act as interpreter, they set out overland for the village of Pokanoket, or Narra- ganset Bay, where Massasoit then was. They bore with them, as presents to the chief, their ally, a laced coat of red cotton, and a copper chain. These were most graciously received by the sagamore, who, when arrayed in his new and strange apparel, was regarded by his people with increased wonder and reverence. It was a harmless device to win the affections of their first friend, and it doubtless aided in doing so, since Massasoit remained true to his early com- pact to the day of his death.
Other chiefs, however, were more jealous of the new-comers. Corbitant, a sachem acknow- ledging allegiance to Massasoit, was by no means disposed to be on good terms with his new allies. On one occasion he seized Squanto, the interpre- ter, and held him a close prisoner, saying, «If Squanto was dead, the English would lose their
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1621.]
tongue." The death of Squanto being reported to the Plymouth people by Hobbamock, another friendly Indian, Captain Standish, with about a dozen men, proceeded hastily and in secret to Corbitant's village, which they surprised about midnight, while all the inhabitants were asleep. In the midst of the alarm which followed, some of the women clung to Hobbamock, crying out " Friend ! Friend !" while the timid boys, dread- ing the vengeance of the intruders, sought to evade it by exclaiming piteously, "I am a girl ! I am a girl!" Fortunately for Corbitant, he was absent at the time; but Standish was gratified at finding the report of the murder of Squanto unfounded. The following morning that useful Indian was released.
But though, as regarded one object which the colonists had in view, the expedition proved a failure, the display of resolution thus evinced had a salutary effect upon the surrounding Indians. On the 18th of September, nine petty chieftains entered Plymouth, and, entreating the friendship of the Pilgrims, acknowledged themselves sub- jects of King James. About the same time a boat with ten men explored Massachusetts Bay. After opening a traffic with the few Indians that were discovered there, the party returned in safety to Plymouth.
With restored health, and a moderately plenti-
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
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ful supply of provisions, the first summer passed not uncheerfully away.
Upon the approach of winter, thirty-five new colonists arrived in the Fortune, among whom were Mr. Cushman, and a portion of those emi- grants who had been left behind with the Speed- well. They were most joyfully welcomed, al- though, by this addition, the limited stores of the settlers were found to be so far short of the requisite provision for the winter, that the colo- nists were constrained to content themselves with one-half the usual daily allowance. Cush- man himself returned to England as the agent of the colony, taking with him a mixed cargo of furs, sassafras, and other articles, to the value of about twenty-four hundred dollars.
Soon after the Fortune had left the coast, an event occurred which at first seemed ominous of approaching danger ; but it was boldly met, and the threatening aspect of affairs terminated peacefully. The western shore of Narraganset Bay was inhabited by the Narraganset Indians, a powerful tribe, of whose numbers and prowess even Massasoit stood in awe. Canonicus, the chief sachem of this nation, at first appeared disposed to regard his English neighbours with friendly feelings ; but, after wavering for some time, he finally sent a messenger to Plymouth with a bundle of arrows, wrapped in the skin of a rattlesnake, as a symbol of his hostility. Nothing
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1621.]
daunted, Governor Bradford filled the skin with powder and ball, and sent it back to Canonicus with a message, expressing his regret at not having any ships at his command, as he would in that case have sailed at once to respond to his challenge; but that if the Narragansets would return to assail the colony, his people were ready to meet them. So much boldness and confidence alarmed the hostile sachem; and when the snake skin, filled with powder and shot, was produced, his fears were so greatly aroused that he would neither touch the symbo- lical device, nor permit it to remain within the limits of his dominions. The messenger who brought it refused to touch it again; but another Indian, somewhat bolder, took it up and carried it to the next village. Its presence creating an equal terror to them, it was carried in a similar manner to another Indian settlement, from whence it was as speedily despatched to a third, and a fourth; and in this way it was passed from settlement to settlement, until at length it was returned to Plymouth without any one having dared to open it during the course of its singular and erratic travels.
Notwithstanding the bold and defiant manner with which it had been deemed politic to reply to Canonicus, the Plymouth people, having a prudent regard for their safety, commenced at once to fortify themselves by surrounding their
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village with a palisade of strong timbers. A system of general military training was also adopted, and rules established for the ' guidance of the colonists in all cases of sudden alarm.
Another voyage to Massachusetts was soon after resolved upon, although Hobbamock sought to prevent it by expressing a fear that the Mas- sachusetts Indians were in alliance with the Narragansets. He also sought to cast a suspi- cion upon the fidelity of Squanto, a charge which the events occurring soon after appeared at first to justify. The voyage was, however, determined upon ; but Standish, with ten men, and accompanied by Squanto and Hobbamock had scarcely departed before a member of Squanto's family spread an alarm that a large" body of Indians were on their way to attack the settlement. To make his story more credible, . the cunning savage had smeared his face with blood, which he alleged was occasioned by a wound received in defence of the colonists. The cannon was at once directed to be fired as a signal for the instant return of the voyagers. Owing to a calm that prevailed at the time, they were yet within hearing, and immediately put back to the settlement, where they found the colonists already armed and prepared to receive the enemy. But Hobbamock no sooner heard the source of the alarm, and that the report of the Indian implicated Massasoit in the hostile
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ARRIVAL OF COLONISTS.
1621.]
movement, than he pronounced the whole story false. Uncertain what to believe, and yet in- clined to give credence to the assertion of Hob- bamock, the governor despatched the wife of the latter secretly to Pokanoket to ascertain the disposition of Massasoit and his Indians toward them. Utterly unsuspicious of the rumours which had been reported so greatly to his prejudice, the noble chieftain was justly indignant at the author of them, and demanded that the slanderer should be delivered to his messengers, who were authorized to put him to death. The value of Squanto as an interpreter, for it was to his shrewdness and cunning that the alarm was owing, saved him from any greater punishment than a reprimand.
While, however, the fate of that wily Indian still hung suspended in the balance, the approach of a strange sail determined the governor to put off his final reply to the messengers from Massasoit, until he had ascertained whether the vessel which was then entering the harbour was a friend or an enemy. Piqued at this delay, the savage envoys departed in great anger, and soon afterward Squanto was restored to liberty.
The suspicious vessel proved to be a friendly shallop, owned by Thomas Weston, a London merchant, engaged in the fisheries off the coast of Maine. This ship brought seven additional colonists to Plymouth. As the emigrants who
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1622.
had arrived in November, relying wholly upon the provisions accumulated by the earlier settlers, had brought with them no stores whatever, and as the new-comers were equally destitute, Mr. Winslow, taking the boat belonging to the colony, returned with the shallop to Maine to purchase supplies from the vessels which frequented that coast. From these worthy and humane mariners he obtained, as a free gift, all the provisions they could spare; and this opportune relief, by judicious economy, afforded the colonists a mode- rate subsistence until the crops they had culti- vated were ready for the garner.
It was from these fishermen that the Ply- mouth people first received tidings of the fearful massacre perpetrated by the Indians, under Opechancanough, upon the settlers in Virginia .. Well knowing that the most perfect of all secu- rity is based upon a wise precaution, they profited so far by this disaster as to erect a fort upon the hill which commanded the town, using it subsequently for the double purposes of wor- ship and defence.
During the month of July, two more vessels, having on board sixty colonists, entered . the harbour of Plymouth. These vessels, the Charity and the Swan, also belonged to Weston, who, having become dissatisfied with his gains from his Plymouth venture, had determined upon establishing a settlement of his own, and had
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WESTON'S COLONISTS. 61
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selected Massachusetts Bay as the most favoura- ble point for a new plantation. These men of Weston's, chiefly indented servants, were received courteously by the Plymouth people ; but being a wild, reckless, improvident set, they fell into disfavour not only with the Pilgrims, but also with the Indians, in whose vicinity at Narraganset, now called Weymouth, they soon after attempted to settle themselves. Godless, idle, and utterly beyond control, they lived care- lessly for some time upon such supplies as they had brought with them. . When these were ex- hausted, and famine stared them in the face, they sought out the neighbouring Indians, and either begged, or stole, or took forcible pos- session of such food as they could get. The natural result of this conduct was to bring down upon them the hatred of the savages, who were only prevented by their fears of the Plymouth people from inflicting a summary punishment upon the offenders.
Although this plantation at Weymouth was established under a distinct grant to Weston, and as such was beyond the jurisdiction of the Plymouth authorities, the latter could not see their own countrymen reduced to such miserable extremities without endeavouring to do some- thing for their relief. A joint expedition was accordingly arranged, by which certain of the Weymouth people were to embark on board the
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Swan, and accompanied by the shallop belong- ing to the Puritans, endeavour to open a traffic with the Indians of the coast for such supplies as even the more prudent of the Pilgrims began at this time to require. At first they found the savages reluctant to have any thing to do with them. On reaching Manamoick, the first night, the savages treated them hospitably enough, so far as to bring them a sufficiency of food for immediate use; but they were evidently jealous of the presence of their guests, and heartily desired their departure. Finally, how- ever, the, interpreter, Squanto, succeeded in allaying their fears, and in effecting a traffic, by which the voyagers obtained some eight hogs- heads of corn and beans.
This was the last exploit of the ambitious and cunning Squanto; while on shore at Manamoick he was suddenly taken ill of a fever. Finding his disease beyond the power of medicine, he fondly bequeathed a number of trifles as memen- tos to different English friends ; and then turning to Governor Bradford, who was one of the party, he said, with his dying breath, "Pray for me that I may go to the Englishman's God in heaven."
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1622.]
CHAPTER IV.
The coasting voyage abandoned-Traffic with the Massa- chusetts Indians-Accident to the shallop-Prospects of an Indian conspiracy-Illness of Massasoit-Winslow's journey to him-False account of Massasoit's death-Reception of Winslow-Recovery of Massasoit-His gratitude-The plot revealed-Winslow returns to Plymouth-Action of the Ge- neral Court-Standish departs for Weymouth-Arrives in the harbour-The Swan deserted-Wretched condition of Weston's people-The intentions of Standish suspected by the Indians-Their daring conduct -- Speech of Pecksuot to Hobbamock-Of Wituwamat-The conflict-Death of the chief conspirators-Fortunate result-Grief of Mr. Robinson.
OWING to the death of Squanto, the object of the voyage was partially frustrated. Instead of doubling Cape Cod, and opening a commu- nication with the Indians to the south of that peninsula, they were compelled to return and en- deavour to renew a traffic with the Massachusetts Indians. In this, however, owing to the easy recklessness of the Weymouth people in their mode of bartering, they were not successful; but at Nauset, now called Eastham, they ob- tained some eight or ten hogsheads of corn and beans. The shallop, being driven ashore in a storm, was found to have suffered more injury than could be repaired with the scanty means at their command; and as they had previously parted company with the Swan, there was no
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help for it but to store the corn, and placing both that and the shallop in charge of the In- dians, to return to Plymouth on foot, a distance of fifty miles. This Bradford and his companions safely accomplished. The Swan arriving soon after, an equal division was made of the corn on board, and then Weston's people returned in her to their neglected plantation.
Already there were signs and portents of what the fate of that plantation would be, if the In- dians should be suffered to combine for its de- struction. A dread of the Plymouth people alone prevented a full co-operation in the conspiracy which was already organized; and the chieftains found it necessary to attempt a more extensive combination, and to include both of the English settlements in their intended massacre.
But their design was providentially frustrated. Before the plan was fully arranged, tidings came to Plymouth that a small Dutch trading-vessel had been driven ashore in Narraganset Bay, near to the residence of Massasoit, and that the old chieftain was himself lying seriously ill. Winslow was immediately despatched to confer with the Dutch, and to express to Massasoit the sympathy of the Puritans. Accompanied by a London gentleman desirous of seeing the country, and by Hobbamock, who had taken the place of Squanto as interpreter, he set out about the middle of March, 1623, and lodged the first
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GRIEF OF HOBBAMOCK.
1623.]
night at Namasket, the present Middleborough, and where, at the report of his piece, certain Indians came to him with the intelligence that Massasoit was dead, and that the Dutch, having been successful in getting their shallop afloat, had sailed from the bay.
The supposed decease of Massasoit rendering it probable that Corbitant would succeed to the chieftainship, Winslow sought an interview with the latter, at his village of Mattapoiset. The distance was only three miles. As they jour- neyed along, Hobbamock could not conceal his grief for the loss of his ancient master. "O my chief, my dear, my loving chief!" he ex- claimed ; "with many have I been acquainted, but none ever equalled thee. O Master Win- slow, his like you will never see again. He was not like other Indians, bloody and implacable; but kind, easily appeased when angry, and easily reconciled with offenders. He was reasonable in his requirements; was not ashamed to ask advice of those in low stations. He was a wise ruler. He governed better with mild than others chiefs did with severe measures ; return- ing love for love. I fear you have not now a faithful friend left among the Indians." In this pathetic and moving strain Hobbamock con- tinued to express his anguish until they arrived at the village where Corbitant resided.
The latter being absent, and his wife expressing
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her ignorance of the death of Massasoit, Winslow, with some degree of reviving hope, instantly de -. spatched a messenger to Pokanoket, to ascertain the truth or falsehood of the rumour. He re- turned the same evening, and reported that the chief was still living, though seemingly at the point of dissolution. Winslow at once started with his companions; and, on arriving at the village, pressed through the crowd with which the house of the chieftain was thronged, and interrupted the medicine-men in the midst of their incantations. The terrible noise, and the impure air of a room densely packed with In- dians, by no means cleanly in their persons, were alone sufficient to endanger the life.of a sick man. Conscious of the necessity of perfect stillness, Winslow silenced the medicine-men, ordered the others to cease their clamorous out- cries, and bade those who were gathered about the rude couch of the dying man. to desist from their manipulations. By this time the sight of the old chieftain had entirely failed him, but he. was still sensible. When informed that his English friends had arrived, he inquired their names, and, on being told of the presence of Winslow, he expressed a desire to speak with him. Winslow immediately approached and took his hand. "Art thou Winslow ?" inquired the ancient chieftain. " Yes," was the reply. "O Winslow !" said Massasoit, sorrowfully, in
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ILLNESS OF MASSASOIT.
1623.]
his own tongue, "I shall never see thee more." But Winslow soon inspired him with hope. He told him that the Plymouth people, earnestly desiring his restoration to health, had sent some things. which might be of service. Massasoit at once decided to place himself under the care of his English friends ; and Winslow, taking upon the point of a knife "a confection of many com- fortable conserves," inserted it between the teeth of his patient. The preparation was swallowed with great difficulty; but when the mouth and tongue of the sick man were thoroughly cleansed, he partook a second time of the confection more easily. After this, a manifest improvement took place in his condition. His sight returned; and while a messenger hastened to Plymouth for medicines and some chickens for a light broth, Winslow sustained the rallying strength of his patient by a supply of corn into which straw- berry leaves and sassafras root had been infused. With returning strength came returning appe- tite, and by indulging to excess, the sick chief suffered a relapse ; but he was again in a fair way of recovering by the time the messenger from Plymouth returned.
This noble and well-timed action greatly en- hanced the regard of the Wampanoag Indians for their English friends, whose generous quali- ties Massasoit was never weary of extolling. Other tribes, however, were still brooding over
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their sanguinary schemes. Of this Massasoit was well aware, and grateful for the kindness of which he had been the recipient, he revealed to Winslow the project for the destruction of the English settlement, and the combination which various tribes along the coast had entered into for that purpose. As the blow was first designed to fall upon Weston's worthless plantation at Weymouth, and as the Massachusetts Indians were the chief promoters of the conspiracy, Mas- sasoit advised that Wituwamat and others of that tribe should be at once put to death by the English, as in that case the conspiracy would be immediately dissolved. Filled with these important revelations, Winslow returned in all haste to Plymouth, which he reached on the 23d of March. The court being at that time in session, Governor Bradford left it to the "body of the company" to decide what was best to be done at this crisis. It was finally concluded to intrust the conduct of the affair to the joint discretion of himself, his assistant, and the va- liant Captain Standish. A determination was promptly formed. The men of Weston's colony were to be secretly informed of their danger, and of the expedition that would soon start under pretence of trade to their relief. This ex- pedition was to consist of eight men only, under the command of Standish, a small man, but of the most indomitable courage. These instructions
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CONDITION OF WESTON'S PEOPLE.
1623.]
were, to proceed to Weymouth and carefully note the temper of the Indians, but to avoid collision with them until such time as Wituwamat was present, whom, as the chief conspirator, they were empowered to kill, and whose head they were directed to bring with them to Plymouth.
The movements of this little war-party were quickened by the arrival of one Pratt from Wes- ton's plantation. He reported that his com- panions were reduced to the most abject condi- tion of poverty, and were in daily danger of being cut off by the Indians, who took from them all they had, and replied to every remonstrance by sanguinary threats. Deeply impressed with the danger impending over the Weymouth settle- ment, Standish immediately set sail. On arriv- ing in the harbour of Wissagusset, he immedi- ately repaired on board the Swan, and sought an interview with the colonists ; but he found the ship to be utterly deserted. The report of a musket, however, brought a few of the men to the shore. Reckless of their lives, some had scattered in search of ground-nuts and other edibles, while the greater number yet remained, in equal squalidness, poverty, and imaginary security, at the plantation. The representations of Standish were the first reliable tidings they had received of the danger in which they stood. The colonists at a distance were immediately sent for, and directed to take up their residence
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in the village, where Standish made his abode and coolly waited until a fit opportunity occurred for carrying out his orders. The presence of a small band of resolute men from Plymouth did not long remain unknown to the Indians. Sus- pecting their designs had been penetrated, they despatched a messenger to Weymouth to learn all he could of the plans and movements of Standish. He returned, and reported that the captain masked an angry heart beneath a friendly demeanour. Notwithstanding this intelligence, the chief conspirators determined to have the matter out. Pecksuot, Wituwamat, and their followers, daringly continued to frequent the miserable village, and boldly courted the danger to which they well knew they were exposed. " Tell Standish," said Pecksuot to Hobbamock, "we know he has come to kill us ; but let him be- gin when he dare." To prove their contempt for . Standish and his party, a number of Indians would enter the rude fort, and whet their knives before the English, accompanying the action with taunts and contemptuous gestures. As if to try the prudence of the fiery captain to the utmost, Pecksuot sneeringly told him, that though he was reported a great captain, he was but a little man. " It is I," said he, "although no chieftain, that have great strength and courage." Nor was the conduct of Wituwamat less insulting. Boasting of his knife, on the handle of which
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1623.]
a woman's face was carved, he said, " I have another at home, with a man's face upon it, that has killed both French and English : by and by the two must marry." Then, in allusion to the perfect silence with which such a weapon could be used, he hinted at his sanguinary purpose by saying, " By and by this knife shall see, and by and by it shall eat-but not speak."
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